Fence-post



(No Model.)

.W.'W. MQOALLIP.

FENCE POST.

Patented June 7,1887.

own-C06 y M m wit messes N, PETERS. Pholwl-MWI M WMM'L DJ;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

YVILLIAM \VATERMAN MOOALLIP, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

FENCE-POST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 364,427, dated June 7, 1887.

Application tiled January 8, 1887. Serial No. 223,790. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it 71mg concern.-

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM Wnrnniuar: MoOALLrP, a citizen of the United States, residing at Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Bases for Fence-Posts, of of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in bases for fence-posts; and it consists of the peculiar construction and adaptation of parts, substantially as hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In devices of this class it is very desirable, nay, essential, that the base shall be made of suilicient strength to resist a maximum pressure and weight exerted thereon by the earth and fence, while at the same time it must be impervious to the action of frost, water, 850., to render it practically indestructible, and easy and rapid of manufacture, so that it is cheap and inexpensiveto bring it within the reach of all.

In a prior application filed by me on May 26, 1886, Serial No. 203, 553, I have illustrated, described, and claimed a base for fence-posts formed of a single piece of vitrified earthenware and having a series of longitudinal passages and a filling of non-freezing mixture or concrete therein; but in my present invention I provide a base of rectangular, cylindrical,

or other suitable contour, which consists of an' outer hollow shell and a series of internal partitions within the shell, which mutually brace and strengthen each other and the shell and thereby produce a base which is of. sufficient strength to withstand the weight and pressure of the fence thereon without becoming displaced vertically in the ground. I furthermore surmount the base with a cap, preferabl y of cast metal, which fits snugly and closely to the base to effectually exclude moisture, water, 850., from entering the spaces between the brace-partitions, which, if permitted in sufficient quantity, would be liable to freeze in cold weather and burst and destroy the base. This cap is secured in a novel manner to the base, as will be fully described presently, and it has an opening or socket for the reception of a post, which is held or secured in the cap only, and is in no wise connected to the base,

' so that the post can be adjusted vertically to align with the other posts of the fence.

I am aware that a base for fence-posts with a cylindrical shell having the open ends thereof closed by plates or caps which are connected by a througlrbolt, which passes ccntrall y through the shell has been used; but the shell in this instance is not braced in any manner to render it strong enough to resist the weight and pressure of the post and fence and does not make ample provision for expansion and contraction and which a single fracture would rendernseless; and, furthermore, itis liable to vertical displacement.

I am also aware that an earthenware base having a hollow cavity or socket which is filled with a wooden core or plug and surmounted by a metallic cap, through a central opening in which a pointed end of a fence-post is driven, is not new, and hence I do not claim the same.

I am further aware that a building-block or tile having longitudinal passages formed therein into which plaster is adapted to take is old; but such is not my invention.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a base for fence-posts embodying my invention, Figure 1 is an elevation of a fence having the posts thereof fitted and held in my improved bases. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view, on an enlarged scale, through my improved base and cap, on the line as arof Fig. 1. Figs. 3 and 4 are detached perspective views of the base and cap, respectively, and Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view through the base on the line y 3 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, in which like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures, A designates the fencepost base of my invention, which consists of an outer shell, B, and the internal partitions, O D, which are arranged within the shell to brace and strengthen the same, and which mutually brace each other.

The shell B is made of any preferable shape or contour, either round, square, rectangular, &c.; but in the several figures of the drawings I have shown the same as rectangular in general form, but square in cross-section, so that the several sides are at difierent angles, to aid in preventing displacement of the base.

The partitions Got the shell are arranged parallel with and equidistant from each other and withtwo of the opposing sides of the shell, and the partitionsl) are likewise arranged with relation to the remaining two opposite sides of the shell and with each other, but at right angles to the partitions C. These partitions O D and the shell Bare made or formed integral with each other and intersect one another, so that they mutually brace one anotherand vastly increase the strength of the shell.

For the purpose of cheapness of manufacture, I make the base of earth and thoroughly burn the same in a kiln to vitrify itand render it hard and durable.

' It has heretofore been impracticable to thoroughly and uniformly burn an earthenware base of sufficient size to render it secure against vertical displacement, because the base was either made in a solid homogeneous mass, or, if it were provided with a socket, the sides of the base were too thick to thoroughly and uniformly bake the same. To overcome this defect I have made the shell of the base comparatively thin and strengthened the said shell by internal brace-partitions which are laterally arranged out of contact with each other and with the shell to provide intermediate passages or openings through which the heat of the kiln is free to circulate and thereby have access to the inner sides of the shell as well as the brace-partitions, whereby the entire base is thoroughly and uniformly baked and hardened.

If preferred, only one series of the internal brace-partitions may be employed to brace the shell; but I prefer to employ two series arranged at substantially right angles to each other, as I thereby provide means which brace the shell in all directions and which mutually brace and strengthen each other.

A cap, E, is fitted snugly on the upper end v of the base to exclude water, &c., from entering the passages or spaces vbetween the partitions. This cap is made of cast metal, and it conforms in shape and size to the form of the base in cross-section. Vertical flanges e depend from the several side edges of the cap and fit snugly over the upper edges of the base to aid in preventing displacement of the cap on the base; also to protect the upper end of the base and in excluding water therefrom. The cap has a central boss, F, projecting upwardly from the same and formed integral therewith, and this boss has a central chamber, f, and an opening, f, through which passes the upper threaded end of a securingbolt, G. This bolt passes centrally through the base, through one of the passages therein, and its lower end is secured or connected in any suitable manner to the partitions of the base.

I do not desire to confine myself to any particular means for connecting the lower end of the through-bolt to the base; but I prefer to employ the means herein shown as being the simplest and most easily and cheaply made,which means consists in bending the lower end of the through-bolt to form a hook, g, which takes beneath the lower edge of one of the partitions. The upper end of the through-bolt is threaded, and upon this threaded end is screwed a bind ing-nut, g, which bears on the cap to prevent the cap from being detached. The parts can be rapidly and easily fitted and connected together and as readily taken apartand detached. The boss of the cap is further providedtwith a socket, h, for the reception of the post, so that the latter is secured and held by the cap alone without being connected with the base in any 111211211161.

' I have herein shown a post, a pair of parallel standards, and to accommodate this form of post I provide the cap with two sockets,which are disposed on opposite sides of. the central chamber in the boss; but I do not desire to confine myself to the specific form of post and the sockets in the cap therefor, as I am aware that the same can be varied indefinitely.

The operation and advantages of my invention will be readily understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art to which it relates from the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings.

In my former application Icmploy a filling of non freezing material within the hollow base; but in practice and careful test I have found that a layer of non-freezing material under the cap serves all the purposes and affords an effectual guard against the effects of frost. In Fig. 2 Ihave shown how such layer of non freezing mixture should be placed.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent. is-

1. The combination of a base having theinternal brace-partitions and a longitudinal passage, a cap. fitted on the upper end of the base, and a lhroughbolt passing through the longitudinal passage of the base and connected at its lower end to one of the brace-partitions thereof, the upper threaded end of the bolt passing through an opening in the cap and having a nut fitted thereon, as and for the purpose described.

2. The combination of a. base having theinternal brace partitions, a metallic cap fitted snugly over the upper end of the base and pro vided on its upper side with an integral boss having a central opening and vertical slots to receive a fence post, a through-bolt passing through the central opening in the cap, and a nut fitted on the upper end of the bolt, as and for the purpose described.

3. A base for fence-posts, comprising the outer shell and the integral partitions arranged within the shell, said partitions being out of contact with each other to thereby form a series of passages which extend entirely through the shell, the shell and its bracing-partitions being formed from a single piece of vitrified earthen substance, a cap to cover the upper end of the base and the passages therein, and means to secure the cap in place, as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I havehereto a'ffixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM WA 'lll RNA N Mo CALLIP.

Witnesses:

H. H. TREMAIN, JOHN I RoBrNsoN. 

